Oehlmann von nerta



- Patented May 6, 1890 A I H (N0 Model.) O. VON NERTA.

DRY BOOK.

' UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

DRY-DOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,382, dated May 6,1890.

Application filed March 5, 1890. fierial No. 342,772. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

- provements in Dry-Docks; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and tothe figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to that class of drydocks known as permanent drydocks, which are located in proximity to a water-way or harbor, theobjects of the invention being to improve the construction of the bottomand sides, whereby the drainage is greatly facilitated, and also toprovide an improved mechanism for centering the vessels and retainingthem firmly in upright position.

To the above ends the invention consists in certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations and arrangements of parts to behereinafter described, and pointed out partiularly in the claims at theend of this specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional viewthrough a dock constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged section of a portion of one side. Fig. 3 is a similar viewshowing the floorin g and drains on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of a section of the flooring, with dilferent portionsbroken away to show the construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

In constructing a dock in accordance with my present invention, wherethe soil is soft or yielding piles are driven in rows the desireddistance apart over the entire area of the bottom of the (lock, andtherefore gaged by the size of the latter, and on the tops of thesepiles (lettered A) are fastened by pins, spikes, or drift-bolts thecross-timbers or joists B, extending from side to side of the bottom ofthe dock. Where, however, the soil in which the dock is formed is hardor rocky, of course the timbers B may be laid without the piling, eitheron the ground itself or on any suitable foundation adapted to bear theweight of the superposed structure. The top level of the timbers Bdetermines the slope or inclination of the bottom of the dock, whichshould be somewhat lower at one end than at the other, in order that thedrainage may be properly collected in a suitable cistern, pump-well, orother receptacle for removal.

On top of the cross-timbers B is laid what I term a drain-flooring,running longitudinally, or from the highest to the lowest level of thebottom of the dock. By drain-flooring I mean a flooring having in itsupper surface a series of drains or grooves which open directly into thecistern or pumpwell or into larger drains which lead into the same. Inthe preferred construction, and as shown in the drawings, said flooringis constructed of alternate sections of relatively thick and thinplanking O and D, respectively secured in position by spikes ordrift-bolts and matched or connected by grooves and tenons, as shown, toform a water-tight floor, the whole being then covered with a heavy coatof elastic cement or asphaltum. E. (SeeFig. 3.) This drain-flooring inturn supports the flooring proper or Wearing-surface F, composed ofplanking laid transversely of the drains with a narrow space betweeneach plank to permit of the passage of water into the drains.

At the sides of the bottom flooring are large drains H, the bottoms ofwhich are below the level of the under surface of the drain-flooring,and passages Gr lead from below the said flooring into the drains,suitable flap-valves g being provided to prevent any water passing outthrough said passages, but permitting of its free entry, in order torelieve the hydrostatic pressure,which, as is well known, mightotherwise injure the bottom flooring, and further by draining thesubstrata preventing the entrance of Water at the sides of the dock. Thesides of the dock are, as usual, formed by a series of wide steps orplatforms commonly termed altars, the rises in the present instancepreferably being formed by rows of piles a, and the altars or horizontalportions similar to the flooring just described, the drains or groovesrunning from the highest to the lowest end and opening into the cisternor pump-well, as before mentioned. The cross timbers or joists B of thealtars are supported by horizontal strips or girts B spiked or otherwisesecured to the faces of the adjacent rows of piling.

IOO

In the bottom of the dock are located the usual keel blocks or supportsI, and on each side of the same are pivoted timbers L,which swing invertical planes and are adapted to rest against and support the hull ofthe vessel to prevent any tilting movement, as well as to center thesame as the water is Withdrawn. In order, now, to elevate the timbers orsupports L, double-toggle levers M N O P are provided, pivoted at oneend to a block in the bottom of the dock or directly to thefloortimbers, a screw-rod N passing through both of the toggle-jointsand having nuts S T on the outside, serving to hold the toggles togetherand the timbers elevated. WVhen the water is in the dock, the timbersare elevated by steel-wire ropes or cablesconneoted to the lowertoggle-joints and operated by any suitable windlass or winding-drum atthe side of the dock.

The operation. is as follows: A vessel to be repaired is towed into thedock, the gate or dam closed, and the water withdrawn until the vesselrests on or is in proximity to the keel-blocks, when the supports L areelevated by means of the cables and togglejoints and held firmly incontact with the bottom of the vessel while the remainder of the wateris withdrawn, the vessel meanwhile being held in upright position by thesupports, which are prevented from injuring the hull by means of pads Kof any preferred construction. After the water is removed the nuts S Tare set up, drawing the toggles firmly together and holding the vesselin an absolutely rigid cradle, which may be easily adjusted to inclinethe vessel to one side or the other or to straighten the same. No watercan remain on the top surface of the floor, and any rain or waterentering from the sides will be caught either in the bottom or on thealtars and at once conducted to the cistern or pump-well for removal.

The draining of each separate altar, it will be noted, prevents anywater from running down into the bottom of the dock; hence preventingany side washing, to say nothing of the ease with which the sides may beformed, the accumulation of slippery substances and water being entirelyprevented.

As it is obvious that the outer floor may be made of removable pieces inorder to permit of access to the drains for cleaning, as well as torenew the floor, I have not deemed it necessary to illustrate thesame,but do not wish to be limited to the rigid form shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In adry-dock, as described, the combination,with the cross timbers orjoists, of the water-tight drain-flooring restin g thereon and havingthe longitudinal drains or grooves in its upper surface leading to thecistern or pump-well, and the flooring on said drainfiooring havingopenings therein through which the water may pass, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a dry-dock, as described, the combination, with the cross timbersorjoists, of the drain-flooring resting thereon, composed of therelatively thick and thin planking jointed together and forming drainsor grooves in the upper surface, and the wearing-floor resting on saiddrain-floor and composed of slightlyseparated planks, substantially asdescribed.

In a dry-dock, as described, the combin ation, with the cross timbers orjoists, of the drain-flooring resting thereon, composed of therelatively thick and thin planking jointed together to form drains inthe upper surface, the coating of elastic cement 011 said drainflooring,and the wearing-floor resting on said drain-floor an d composed ofslightly-separated planks, substantially as described.

4:. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the water-proof flooring, ofthe drains at the sides, extending below the under surface of the floorand the openings leading from beneath the fioor into said drains,substantially as described.

5. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the water-proof flooring, of thedrains at the sides, extending below the under surface of the floor, theopenings leading from beneath the floors into said drains, and theflap-valves for preventing the passage of water out through saidopenings, substantially as described.

6. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bottom floor, of the altarshaving the rises formed by rows of piles and the horizontal portionsresting thereon, substantially as described.-

7. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bottom floor, of the altarshaving the rises formed by rows of piles, the girders secured thereon,an d the horizontal portion carried by said girders, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a dry-dock, the combination, with the bot-tom floor, of the altarshaving the longitudinal drains therein for catching the water andcarrying the same to the cistern or pumpwell, substantially asdescribed.

9. In a dry-dock, the combination,with the bottom floor having thelongitudinal drain, of the altars having the cross-timbers, thedrainflooring resting thereon and composed of the relatively thick andthin planking forming longitudinal grooves, and the wearing-floorresting on said drain-flooring, substantially as described.

10. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, ofa cable for elevating said timber to support the vessel as the water iswithdrawn, substantially as described.

11. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, ofa toggle connected thereto, and a cable for operating said toggle toelevate the timber and support the vessel while the water is beingwithdrawn, substantially as described.

12. In a dock, the combination, with the pivoted supporting-timbers, oftoggles connected thereto, and a screw for holding said toggles andtimbers in adjusted position, ally connected thereto on each side, ofthe whereby a rigid cradle may be formed, subdouble-toggle leverspivoted at one end to V stantially as described. the timbers and at theopposite end to the bot- 13. In a dock, the combination, with the tom ofthe dock, the screws connecting the 15 5 pivoted supporting-timbers, ofdouble toggles toggles of each pair, and the nuts on the ends connectedthereto, a cable for operating said of the screws, substantially asdescribed.

to les and a screw connectiru said to les r fol holding the same inadjusted position, OEHLMANN VON NERPA' substantially as described.\Vitnesses:

to 14:. In a dock, the combination, with the JUSTIN MCCARTHY,

keel-block andthe supporting-timbers pivot- CHAS. MEADS, Jr.

